Thrones no longer available for free (except HON/SEN)
Dec 8, 2019, 7:37 am
#166
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: MM, EK, HH, etc.
Posts: 381
The economic rationale may also be this: if only very few pax actually pay the “premium” seat fee, and most of those few are willing to pay a higher fee, the fee may as well be increased to generate more revenue. Personally, I find the seat booking fee in the premium cabins absurd and have never paid one on any carrier (not an issue to me with LX as status pax anyway).
Dec 8, 2019, 9:46 am
#167
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
First off, most of the money is made on the direct flights (ZRH tends to have high fares). When it comes to paid seat selection vs having a connection, most people probably choose the direct flight option even if it means paying for the good seats.
Secondly, if someone books UA or LH instead of LX: they don't lose any money because of the revenue sharing.
Yes, they've lost me as a customer many times. I'm not the typical customer, I doubt they care.
Dec 8, 2019, 7:52 pm
#168
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Stoke on Trent, UK (MAN ), BUE, BKK, DBV
Programs: LH HON***,UA,BA.EK Gold,AV.
Posts: 11,637
The problem is: I don't think this is actually much of a factor for LX.
First off, most of the money is made on the direct flights (ZRH tends to have high fares). When it comes to paid seat selection vs having a connection, most people probably choose the direct flight option even if it means paying for the good seats.
Secondly, if someone books UA or LH instead of LX: they don't lose any money because of the revenue sharing.
Yes, they've lost me as a customer many times. I'm not the typical customer, I doubt they care.
First off, most of the money is made on the direct flights (ZRH tends to have high fares). When it comes to paid seat selection vs having a connection, most people probably choose the direct flight option even if it means paying for the good seats.
Secondly, if someone books UA or LH instead of LX: they don't lose any money because of the revenue sharing.
Yes, they've lost me as a customer many times. I'm not the typical customer, I doubt they care.
Dec 8, 2019, 8:54 pm
#169
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,453
Dec 13, 2019, 3:59 am
#170
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Australia
Programs: LHSen UA1K VAGold QFSilv HHon Diamond ShangrilaJade Radisson Gold SPG Gold Marriott Gold Hertz Presi
Posts: 1,049
Thrones for/fuer SEN
Hey all with the new LX/LH/OS LH Gruppe seating charges, are the Throne aka Privacy Seats on LX still free for SEN?
Dec 13, 2019, 7:09 am
#173
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: my heart is on the shores of the north Italian lakes
Programs: LX Senator Lifetime, Relais&Chateaux Club5C, ex ! "Amanjunkie", ex LHW LC, hate chain hotels
Posts: 2,515
Dec 19, 2019, 7:19 am
#174
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 45
SWISS Throne Seats for Free?
I am flying SWISS business class on LX 41 (LAX to ZRH) and then LX 180 (ZRH to BKK) on a B777-300ER. I am not HON or SEN.
The throne seats normally cost. But I've read that if you ask 48 hours in advance and no one has chosen those seats, you can get them for free. But when I've tested that, it looks like all advanced seat assignments for business class are turned off, and that you have to check in again at 23 hours before take off to get the throne seat.
Has anyone actually scored a throne seat for free without being HON or SEN? What's the exact procedure for doing that?
Thanks.
The throne seats normally cost. But I've read that if you ask 48 hours in advance and no one has chosen those seats, you can get them for free. But when I've tested that, it looks like all advanced seat assignments for business class are turned off, and that you have to check in again at 23 hours before take off to get the throne seat.
Has anyone actually scored a throne seat for free without being HON or SEN? What's the exact procedure for doing that?
Thanks.
Last edited by alocsin; Dec 19, 2019 at 11:38 am
Dec 19, 2019, 7:34 am
#175
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: ZRH
Programs: LX SEN, HH Diamond, IHG, Melia Silver, AVIS, Sixt
Posts: 276
Afaik being neither HON nor SEN you can only get a throne seat once the check-in opens, means 23hrs in advance. If you have a feeder flight you can usually check in earlier for the following segment, i.e. 23hrs before your first segment the second segment is often also open for Check-In and thus it might be easier to score a throne for the ZRH-BKK segment.
Dec 19, 2019, 11:30 am
#176
Moderator: SAS
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: BLL & CPH & ZRH
Programs: LX, SK EBD (*G)
Posts: 3,152
You will certainly not get one for free by asking. They sell them for several 100$.
48 hours in advance the seats should open up. (That is before check-in!) Then you can select them for free if they are still available.
48 hours in advance the seats should open up. (That is before check-in!) Then you can select them for free if they are still available.
Dec 19, 2019, 12:38 pm
#178
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
The throne seats normally cost. But I've read that if you ask 48 hours in advance and no one has chosen those seats, you can get them for free. But when I've tested that, it looks like all advanced seat assignments for business class are turned off, and that you have to check in again at 23 hours before take off to get the throne seat.
Has anyone actually scored a throne seat for free without being HON or SEN? What's the exact procedure for doing that?
Has anyone actually scored a throne seat for free without being HON or SEN? What's the exact procedure for doing that?
I've gotten them for free (as UA*G, but that shouldn't matter), but only via the usual checkin, which doesn't open until closer to the flight.
I'm guessing the 48 hour claim is from older better days when Swiss were less obnoxious than they currently are?
Dec 19, 2019, 12:59 pm
#179
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295
I am a *G and right now, I am ~40h away from a A330 flight in C. Seat selection is now closed and online check-in not yet available.
I am usually successful at getting a throne once online check-in opens, but I'd love to know about a way to get it in the 48-24h window.
Dec 19, 2019, 3:19 pm
#180
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: WAW
Programs: LH SEN *
Posts: 1,152
If this is your first flight, SWISS opens online check-in for you 23 hrs before the departure time.
For those whose bookings include other flights before this flight, the online check-in and seat selection will be available 23 hrs before THEIR first flight, so they will be will be ahead of you.
Star Alliance Gold doesn't help, M&M SEN does.
For those whose bookings include other flights before this flight, the online check-in and seat selection will be available 23 hrs before THEIR first flight, so they will be will be ahead of you.
Star Alliance Gold doesn't help, M&M SEN does.